Boards

I'm awful with money. Really, really awful. I get charged £28 (or something) nearly every month for going overdrawn, and then a further £20 or so for them paying the £8 direct debit that always seems to be the reason I go overdrawn

So, that's pretty much £50 that I get charged pretty much every month. Yep, I'm an idiot. I know this. But that's not why I'm here

Apparently it is illegal for the bank to profit from you being in debt, so thanks to a law passed six years ago, they are only entitled to charge you any administrative costs involved. These come to £4.50, at most

So I've just mooched into my local Abbey branch and requested a copy of my statements from the last three years. And they're sending them to me, free of charge. Once I get them, I can work out how much they've illegally charged me and then ask for it back. I'm led to believe they'll offer me a lower amount in the hope that I accept, but that if you reply by saying you want the full amount refunded there isn't anything they can do about it. Huzzah!

which basically tells your bank the laws on charging money on accounts. It has so far got at least 4 people about £600 each. If anyone wants a copy, pm me your email address. I'll call in the pints at a later date.

I am going to do this as well...I am in exactly the same situation as you dove from above, same standing order makes me overdrawn, I then get charged, which means I can't make the standing order again. Completely illogical and they do not listen to any sort of reason. Absolute cunts. Always happens a few days before payday. I HATE banks with a passion and think charges like this are disgusting. So I am definitely going to try this. THANKS!

there was a huge feature on how banks were charging so many people illegally and they provided a load of info (even standard letters!) for people to claim their money back. Yes, so search the BBC site.